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In [[1772]], he returned to Spain in the company of his uncle, José de Gálvez. Later, he was sent to Pau, France with the Cantabria regiment. There, he learned to speak French, which served him well when he became governor of Louisiana. He was transferred to [[Wikipedia:Seville|Seville, Spain]] in [[1775]], and then participated in the failed expedition of [[Wikipedia:Alejandro O'Reilly|Alejandro O'Reilly]] to Algiers. Gálvez himself was seriously wounded. After capturing the fortress that guarded the city, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He then became a professor at the military academy of Ávila.

In [[1777]], he was sent to Louisiana, as a colonel and interim governor of the province. This was the large territory that later became the Louisiana Purchase. It had been ceded by France to Spain, in [[1763]], in compensation for the loss of Florida to England. In [[1779]], he was promoted to brigadier.

He practiced an anti-British policy as governor, taking measures against British smuggling and promoting trade with France. He also established free trade with Cuba and Yucatán. He founded [[Wikipedia:Galvez, Louisiana|Galvez Town]] in [[1778]], and promoted colonization of [[Wikipedia:Nueva Iberia|Nueva Iberia]].

Gálvez was sent to Florida by Martín de Mayorga, the Viceroy of New Spain, to lead an expedition of colonial troops to aid American colonists in their rebellion against Britain. Spain's motive was the chance to recover territories lost to the British, particularly Florida, and to remove the on-going British threat. On [[June 21]], [[1779]], Spain declared war on England.